A bill moving through the legislature seeks to end the “food shaming” some say is happening in a few Iowa schools. Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt, of Cedar Rapids, says it’s not the fault of the children if their parents failed to pay for lunch at school. “There will be no more stamping our children with ‘insufficient funds’ stamps, labeling children with large stickers indicating debt, placing children’s names on large posters up in public areas, identifying them nor making them sit at tables with other children who have a meal debt,” she says. “And, importantly, no more dumping trays.”

Running-Marquardt says the “vast majority” of schools and food service workers handle school lunch debt compassionately. “We know that if a child is hungry, it affects their ability to learn,” Running-Marquardt says. “There are children who, just by standing in a lunch line — not knowing if they’ll be embarrassed causes them so much anxiety, they avoid lunch altogether.” A bill addressing this topic cleared the Iowa House last week on a 97-to-zero vote.

“Good policy that will keep our kids full and focused.” That’s Representative Ashley Hinson of Cedar Rapids, who worked on the legislation. Representative Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines says this bill is long overdue for low-income students who’ve endured “shaming” at school over unpaid lunch bills. “They will feel that they have dignity, that they have self-esteem, that they are being not punished for something they have no control over,” Gaines said, “and it will give them equal opportunity to learn.”

Bill backers say one key provision of the bill may help parents who’ve fallen behind on the school lunch tab for their children. Under current state law, Iowa school officials may notify parents ONCE A YEAR about enrolling their child in the free or reduced lunch program. This bill removes that limitation, so if a parent loses their job or encounters some other financial hardship during the school year, a school official may suggest filling out the paperwork for free and reduced lunches for their kids.

The proposal must clear a COMMITTEE in the Iowa SENATE this week to remain eligible for debate in the full senate.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — Two road projects have forced the closure of a state park and blocked connections to a Mississippi River bridge, resulting in an abrupt drop in tourism in eastern Iowa. The Telegraph Herald reports that Jackson County was already bracing for this year’s closure of the Maquoketa Caves State Park, which is necessary to replace a road and upgrade electrical services. But the economic impact is compounded by a small bridge near Sabula that unexpectedly closed for safety issues.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — More snowfall over the past month prompted officials to increase the forecast for runoff in the Missouri River this spring. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now predicting the amount of water that will flow into the river will be about 115 percent of normal this year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Berkshire Hathaway employees will have a chance to win as much as $2 million a year for life in their office pool for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. But the contest is only open to the roughly 375,000 employees of Warren Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A former youth counselor at Four Oaks juvenile facility in Davenport has been arrested after being accused of helping the escape of three juveniles offenders _ one of which she was involved with romantically. Television station KWQC reports that 19-year-old Hannah Rose Fitzpatrick, of Marion, Iowa, is charged with sexual misconduct with a youth offender in her custody. The charge is an aggravated misdemeanor under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of up to two years.

Officials with the Stuart Police Department, Sunday, put out a notice on their Facebook page stating that one of their local {Stuart} followers shared an advertisement with the Police Department that she received on her Facebook Timeline. Authorities say “In the ad, a harrowing story of a Stuart resident surviving an attack at a Stuart grocery store is told. The company, which is trying to sell personal safety products claims that the victim was saved because they were carrying one of their products. Luckily the person who reported this was aware enough to know that this story was false but wanted to make sure others didn’t become alarmed if they received similar ads.”

The Stuart P-D warns “There are many scams and advertisements that use false information on Facebook. Many times these advertisements will use your location to attempt to gain your trust or confidence in their product. In this case they used her location in an attempt to create fear. Please be aware of these types of ads and remember if it “sounds too good to be true” or in this case “too bad to be true” it usually is.”

Here’s what the (redacted) ad looked like (click on the image to enlarge):

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — Two road projects have forced the closure of a state park and blocked connections to a Mississippi River bridge, resulting in an abrupt drop in tourism in eastern Iowa.

Jackson County was already bracing for this year’s closure of the Maquoketa Caves State Park, which is necessary to replace a road and upgrade electrical services, the Telegraph Herald reported . But the economic impact is compounded by a small bridge near Sabula that unexpectedly closed for safety issues this month.

Access to the popular caves and park shut down Feb. 5, and is anticipated to last through August. Dave Heiar, director of Jackson County Economic Alliance, said the park and caves are the biggest tourism engines in the area. “The numbers that the park ranger shares with us is it’s between 250,000 and 300,000 visitors a year they have there,” he said.

The bridge is expected to stay closed until late May. The small Sabula bridge closure cuts off access to a larger U.S. 52/Illinois 64 bridge over the Mississippi River. Motorists wanting to travel from Sabula’s island community to Savanna, Illinois, or vice versa, will now have to deal with a 36-mile detour.

“The Sabula bridge scenario, it’s more than just tourism,” said Heiar. “There are people who use that bridge, that road to get to work on a daily basis.” Sabula’s limited amenities make Savanna, Illinois, a popular destination. “Most people in Sabula do their shopping in Savanna,” said Sabula City Council Member Rich Epich. “That’s out of the question (now).”

Epich also said that flooding could throw a wrench into the bridge closure timeline.
“I think it all depends if we flood this year because I think that will slow down construction quite a bit if it floods,” Epich said. “May is probably optimistic.”

The state’s casinos submitted new security plans this past week as they went through the license renewal process. Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says it’s become a standard part of the process. He says the commission staff reviews the plans and consults with the local D-C-I agents. Ohorilko says the commission got a little more involved in the plans a few years ago. “When there was some legislation that reduced the number of D-C-I agents at the various facilities. And at that time the administrative rules were changed to provide for more visibility for the commission of those security plans,” Ohorilko explains.

Talk of security reviews often centers around concerns about recent shootings. Ohorilko says making sure underage gamblers don’t get in is one big security key for casinos, as is taking care of the loot. “In any casino there is a significant movement of money — whether that’s dropping slot machines or table games and moving those to the count room or vault — so security plans can outline how that money is secured,” According to Ohorilko. “It can also outline what happens in an emergency.”

He says the plans for the state-licensed casinos have to include everything. The general manager of the new land-based casino near Davenport told the commission this week they are able to cut their on-site security staff level because local law enforcement and first responders are now closer and have better access than they did with the riverboat casino.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Stuart Police Department report two people were arrested on drug and other charges Saturday night following a traffic stop in the 1100 block of S. Division Street. During the investigation, approximately 10-ounces of marijuana was seized from the female driver, who is from Marshalltown.

The woman was taken into custody and charged with Felony Possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, along with child endangerment. An adult male occupant of the vehicle from Des Moines, was discovered to have warrants out of Story and Polk Counties. He was also arrested on prescription drug charges.

Three young juveniles who were also in the vehicle were transferred to the care of family members. Both adults were booked into the Adair County Jail. No names have been released.

Evidence seized during the traffic stop: 10-oz of marijuana. (Photo from Stuart PD’s Facebook page)

Two men were arrested Saturday night in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 35-year old Joseph Aaron Nelson,and 28-year old Jason Michael Eppenbaugh, both of Red Oak, were arrested at around 9:40-p.m., for Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts. Nelson and Eppenbaugh were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.